(Photo: Fernando M. Donado, For OC Sports Zone)
CIF FOOTBALL FINALS PREVIEWS
All games 7 p.m.
Division 1
Mater Dei vs. St. John Bosco, Friday, Nov. 24, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Mater Dei makes a seventh straight finals appearance after losing in the title game last year. The Monarchs are 11‐1, the second team out of the Trinity League and the second seed in the bracket.
Coach Frank McManus’ defense has barely allowed 100 points this year.
Quarterback Elijah Brown has thrown for over 2,500 yards and 33 touchdowns. Running back Jordan Davison has run for over 600 yards and eight TDs and wide receiver Marcus Brown has more than 600 receiving yards and 10 TD catches.
On defense Mater Dei has more than 40 sacks led by Nasir Wyatt with 12. Jeilani Davis has five interceptions. Mater Dei looks to win its 13th championship.
Defending champion St. John Bosco (11-1) is the top seed in the bracket and the champion of the Trinity League. Coach Jason Negro’s Braves have scored over 400 points. Quarterback Caleb Sanchez has
passed for nearly 3,000 yards, with nearly 30 passing TDs.
Running backs Chauncy Sylvester and Cameron Jones both have double digit rushing touchdowns. Wide receivers Daniel Odom and Stacy Dobbins each has more then five TD receptions.
On defense Kyngstonn Viliamu‐asa leads the way with more than 90 tackles, while the
Braves have over 40 sacks led by Max Amasio and Dutch Horisk. The Braves are looking for their fourth title since 2013 and second in a row.
St. John Bosco defeated Mater Dei 24-22 in last year’s Division 1 final at the Rose Bowl.
Division 4
Corona del Mar vs. La Serna at California High School, Friday, Nov. 24
Corona del Mar returns to the championship game for the first time since 2019. The Sea Kings(8-5)
were an at‐large team from the Sunset League and are the fourth seed in the bracket.
First-year head coach Kevin Hettig leads a well‐balanced team on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Kaleb Annett has passed for more than 2,100 yards and 25 touchdowns. Wide receiver Russell Weir and Zach Guiliano each have eight TD catches.
Christian Brooks leads the defense with over 100 tackles while the Sea Kings have nearly 25 sacks. CdM
looks to claim a seventh CIF title.
CdM defeated Yorba Linda in the semifinals last week to advance.
La Serna is back in the finals for the first time in four years. The Lancers are 10‐3, the champions of the Del Rio League and are the second seed in the bracket. Coach Andy George is in charge of a high‐powered offense and stingy defense barely allowing 200 points.
Quarterback Aiden Leonardo has passed for 15 TDs while running back Owen Long has run for 1,100 yards and 20 TDs. WR Jayden Northrup has 11 TD catches.
On defense Adrian Castro leads the way with over 100 tackles. The Lancers have nearly 30 sacks led by Emre Law with eight. La Serna is looking to win the program’s third title.
Division 2
Servite at Mission Viejo, Saturday, Nov. 25
Servite returns to the finals for the first time since 2021. The Friars are 8‐5, were an at‐large team out of the Trinity League and beat two seeded teams in the bracket. Coach Chris Reinart leads a balanced team
on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Leo Hannan has passed for over 2,000 yards.
Running back Quaid Carr has run for more than 1,000 yards and 14 TDs. Isaiah Leilua leads the Friars on defense with more than 70 tackles while Toma Cernius has nine and a half of the team’s 23 sacks. Servite looks to win the school’ s sixth championship.
Mission Viejo is the fourth seed in the bracket, have a 10‐3 record and was the runner up of the South Coast League. Coach Chad Johnson’s team is on a five‐game winning streak.
Quarterbacks Luke Fahey and Draiden Trudeau each threw for more than 1,000 yards. Running back Hinesward Lilomaiava has rushed for 12 touchdowns while wide receiver Vance Spafford has more than 1,200 receiving yards and 16 TD catches.
The defense is led by Jaden Williams with 100 tackles and 15 1/2 sacks. The Diablos have more than 20 interceptions this year. Mission Viejo is trying to win its eighth championship.
Division 7
Mayfair vs. El Dorado at Valencia High School, Saturday, Nov. 25
Mayfair will be competing in the school’s fourth CIF title game. The Monsoons are 10‐3, the third team from the Gateway League and beat the top seed in the bracket.
Coach Derek Bedell’s team is on a four-game winning streak. Quarterback Jeremiah Calvin has thrown for over 2,600 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns. Running back Louis Johnson has rushed for 14 TDs. Wide receiver Chaz Gilbreath has 1,100 receiving yards and 11 TD catches.
On defense Marcell Kemp and Miles Mitchell leads the way with more than 70 tackles. Mayfair looks to bring home the program’s third title.
El Dorado returns to the finals for the first time since its back‐to‐back wins in 2006‐2007. The Golden
Hawks (8-5) were the second place team from the North Hills League and beat two seeded teams in the playoffs.
Coach Zack LaMonda’s team is led by quarterback Nate Bento, who has passed for over 2,200 yards and 20 TDs. Running back JP Murray has rushed for 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns. Mac Wolf leads the defense with nearly 100 tackles. El Dorado looks to bring home a third CIF championship.
El Dorado advanced to the finals with a comeback win over ML King in the semifinals last week.
—Courtesy CIF Section
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